O'Neill agrees with McGregor about Celtic issues

Published30 October 2026

Manager Martin O'Neill says he is in "full agreement" with captain Callum McGregor's assessment of Celtic's issues, but insisted they will "sort it out".

McGregor was asked about the team's struggles after Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Dundee United, describing some moments in games as being "a bit basketball" as Celtic lacked their usual control.

The 33-year-old also noted playing strikers like Callum Osmand and Camilo Duran as wingers may be contributing to those issues amid a run of three wins in nine games.

When O'Neill was asked about those comments before Sunday's match with Falkirk, he said he had "no idea" what McGregor said, but when the context was put to the Celtic manager he said he agreed with his captain's diagnosis.

"I totally agree that Callum Osmand is actually really a centre forward, I've said this at the press conference, that he is essentially a centre forward," O'Neill said.

"He probably would play off somebody strong alongside him, I'm not so sure that he could lead the line on his own.

"And that Camilo Duran is really a centre forward, so the players are getting to know each other, it's as really simple as that there, so I'm in total agreement with Callum."

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Celtic still hold a four-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership, and will extend that to seven if they beat Falkirk on Sunday, with Rangers in League Cup action.

The defending champions have only lost once, at home to Rangers, in the league but have three Europa League defeats from three amid fan discontent and a boycott of some games by the Green Brigade fans group.

McGregor is not the first senior player to speak about Celtic's lack of control in games, with defender Cameron Carter-Vickers saying after their Glasgow derby loss that the team were "too random" in their play.

O'Neill, though, says the group will improve as more players get up to speed across the course of the winter and in the meantime are doing enough in the league.

"I come in here [to the press conference] every single week and I'm most of the time pretty buoyed by things," the Northern Irishman said.

"Don't try and throw a lot of divides in at the end of the day, we're doing fine.

"A lot of lads here didn't even do pre-season with us. A number of players came in quite late on, so it will take time for us.

"So we need to hang in there, and at this minute I think we're hanging in."

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